Open end spinning or twisting machine



Jan. 13, 1970 Filed Dec. 31, 1968 D. W. MAXHAM OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI INVENTOR D.W. MAXHAM Jawn, 5W

ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1970 D. w. lMAXHAM 13,488'935 OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING MACHINE (A m Q I BY 9 fund,

momma Jan. 13, 1970 D; w. MAXHAM SP INNING OR TWISTING MACHINE OPEN END 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 31, 196E mu E A H 8N a Ne 8 Jan. 13, 1970 D. w. MAXHAM ,488,935

OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1968 6 Sheets-Shee t 4 Jan. 13, 1970 D. w. 'MAXHAM 3,488,935

OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING MA'CHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR D.W. MAXHAM ATTORNEYS Jamp13, 1970 D. w. MAXHAM OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING'MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 31, 1968 United States Patent 3,488,935 OPEN END SPINNING OR TWISTING MACHINE Daniel W. Maxham, Rte. 5, Austell, Ga. 30001 Filed Dec. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 788,216 Int. Cl. D01h 7/00, 1/12 US. Cl. 5758.91 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The mechanism for conveying fibrous material to the twist needle of an open end spinning or twisting machine is caused to traverse back and forth along a path extending longitudinally of the twist needle. The drafting mechanism includes rolls for receiving the fibrous material and rolls for feeding the material to the conveying mechanism with drafting of the fibrous material being effected in the region between such rolls. The rolls which receive the fibrous material may be continuously or intermittently driven whereas the rolls which feed the drafted fibrous material to the conveying mechanism are continuously driven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The term open end spinning or twisting machine is a common trade name used in the textile industry for machines which insert twist into roving, yarn, or other products by means other than revolving the creel or the finished product. The particular mechanism for inserting the twist may take various forms, one such mechanism being disclosed in Patent 2,598,185 of May 27, 1952 wherein an elonate twist needle operating in conjunction with a twist belt is supplied with fibrous material. Adjacent the free end of the twist needle are delivery rolls which control the amount of twist imparted to the material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves improvements in open end spinning or twisting machines of the type described hereinaibove, the improvement consisting essentially of novel means for conveying the fibrous material to the twist needle. The means for conveying the fibrous material to the twist needle includes mechanism whereby the fibrous material, as it is fed to the twist needle is caused to traverse along a path extending longitudinally of the twist needle. SpFcifically, the conveyor mechanism includes a pair of endless belts trained respectively about upper and lower fiber carrier rolls and about corresponding idler rolls which are disposed adjacent the twist needle. Flights of these belts are disposed in juxtaposition and the idler pulleys are caused to reciprocate back and forth along a path extending longitudinally of the twist needle. Preceeding the conveyor mechanism there may be provided drafting mechanism which includes a pair of rolls which are continuously driven at approximately the same speed as the conveying mechanism and other rolls preceding them which receive the fibrous material. The rolls which receive the fibrous material may be continuously or intermittently driven but, in any case, are driven at a speed more in a manner such that the fibrous material is drafted in the region between such rolls and the rolls which feed the conveying mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 in FIGURE 1 show- Patented Jan. 13, 1970 ice ing principally the twisting mechanism and the drive therefor;

FIGURE 3 is a partial plan view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the intermittent drive mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentaiy elevational view showing a portion of the drive mechanism of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view showing further details of the intermittent drive mechanism of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view illustrating a modified construction for controlling the motion of the intermittent drive mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view illustrating the details of certain portions of the drive mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a rear elevational view showing the drive mechanism for the rolls 23 and 24; and

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time more particularly to FIG- URE l, the twisting mechanism is located generally in the region indicated by the reference character A and incorporates an elongate twist needle 79, an associated twist belt 78, and the delivery rolls 71 and 72. Mechanism is utilized for conveying fibrous material to the twisting mechanism, such conveying mechanism being indicated generally by the reference character B and which will be seen to include endless belts 82 and 83 trained at one end about the fiber carrier rolls 181 and 46 and at their opposite ends around idler pulleys such as that indicated by the reference character 81, such idler pulleys being carried by the vertical shafts and 104 as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The fibrous material is conveyed between the juxtaposed flights of the two belts 82 and 83 and is caused to issue from therebetween to the twist needle 79. The shaft 80 is caused to reciprocate axially, thereby causing the pulleys 81 to traverse a path extending longitudinally of the twist needle 79, the conveying mechanism B and the aforesaid traversing movement thereof forming an important feature of the present invention.

A continuously driven bottom front drafting roll 23 and its associated top roll 45 are utilized to feed the conveying mechanism B whereas the bottom back roll 21 and its associated top roll 43 and the bottom break draft roll 22 and its associated top roll 44 are so driven as to impart draft to the fibrous material. For this purpose, the rolls 21, 43 and 22, 44 may be continuously or intermittently driven, thus respectively delivering continuous lengths or long lengths of fibrous material to the twisting m chanism. The intermittent drafting, taken in conjunction with the traversing means associated with the conveyor mechanism B assures that the fibers are places or wound on the twist needle 79 in parallel relationship to each other. If, on the other hand, continuous drafting is used, fibers will not be as parallel to each other as is the case with intermittent drafting. However, a large percentage of the fibers will be substantially parallel when continuous drafting is used. The conveying means B may also be used to convey and place or wind fibers from a card web on the twist needle 79, it being appreciated that the web in this case may also be drafted as desired.

The intermittent drafting hereinafter more particularly described is a novel method of placing lengths of fiber on the twist needle 79. The preferred length are dependent upon the width of the twist belt 78 and the length of the twist needle 79, a twist belt width of 20 inches being capable of handling 40 to 100 inch lengths and produce quality yarn or roving. As an example, if 40 inch lengths are preferred, the delivery rolls 71 and 72 would remove from 5 to inches from the needle 79 for each 40 inch lengths delivered to the needle, The ratio of length delivered from the needle with relation to the length delivered to the needle would be dependent upon the twist per inch desired and the number of splices or doublings desired in a given length of yarn.

As shown, the frame of the machine includes the front uprights 114, the rear side plates 33 and the rear center upright 42 all interconnected by the bed plate 170. A horizontal frame plate 65 is connected to the upright 42 and a stand assembly 48 is secured on the upper side thereof as by the fasteners 54, with there being provided a further frame or stand 206 secured to the frame stand 48 by means of the fasteners 66.

The main drive for the machine may be effected by suitable means such as an electric motor and is imparted to the main drive shaft 38, see particularly FIGURES 4, 6 and 9. The shaft 38 extends through and is journalled within the side plates 33 and is provided with an outboard bearing stand 31 secured to the bed 170 by suitable fasteners 127. An outboard collar 126 and the hub of a cam 30 serve to axially locate the shaft 38, each being secured thereto by suitable means such as a set screw or the like. In the illustrated machine, I have provided an intermittent drive for the back bottom roll 21 and the bottom break draft roll 22. The intermittent drive is actuated by the cam 30 which is provided with a recess for the cam follower 167 attached to the lower extremity of the oscillating arm 27. The oscillating arm 27 has a hub pivoted on a shaft 29 having a collar 171 fixed thereto as by a set screw and abutting the hub of the arm 27. The shaft 29 fixedly carries a ratchet gear 133 and a loose collar is provided between the ratchet gear and the arm 27. The shaft 29 is supported by a bearing stand 130 mounted on the lateral projection 131 of the side plate 33 and is secured thereto as by a fastener 132. At the opposite of the shaft 29 there is provided a spur gear 129 whose hub is fixed to the shaft and is so adjusted thereon as to prevent axial shifting of the shaft 29. The spur gear 129 meshes with a spur gear 25 fixed to the back roll 21 for imparting drive thereto and, as can be seen in FIG. 4, a spur gear 26 fixed to the bottom break draft roll 22 also meshed with the spur gear 129 substantially as is shown in FIG, 4.

FIG. 4 also serves to illustrate the nature of the intermittent drive effected between the main drive shaft 38 and the shaft 29. The arm 27 carries a pawl 28 which is pivoted thereto as by a suitable pin member and which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet gear 133, reverse rotation of the shaft 29 being prevented by means of a pawl 35 pivotally attached to the bracket 36 mounted on the upright 34 and fastened thereto as by suitable fasteners 37.

A shaft 39 is disposed in horizontally spaced, parallel relation to the shaft 38, suitable bearing brackets 32 being provided to support this shaft and suitable collars 40 being provided to prevent axial shifting thereof. The drive from shaft 38 to the shaft 39 is effected through the gear set 125, 41 and, as may be seen in FIG. 9, the sprocket 135 fixed to the shaft 38 drives the sprocket 137 fixed to the shaft 153 by means of a chain 136. As may be seen in FIG. 10, the shaft 153 is supported between the side plates 33 and carries drive gear elements 154 and 155 at its opposite ends which are in mesh respectively with the gears 119 and 120 on the corresponding ends of the shaft of the bottom front drafting roll 23 and the shaft 24 of the bottom fiber carrier roll 181. The shaft 153 also carries a bevel gear 184 meshing with a bevel gear 138 which is fixed to the shaft 139 which angles downwardly substantially as is shown in FIG. 9. The shaft 139 is supported at one end by bearing stand 149 attached to the bed plate 170 by suitable fasteners 150 and at its opp site end is supported by a pillow block or bearing bracket 148 secured to the side plates 33 as by suitable fasteners 1 51 and 152.

The lower end of the shaft 139 carries a bevel gear 140 meshing with a bevel gear 141 fixed to the vertical shaft 108. The shaft 108 is utilized to impart rotary drive to the twist needle 79 and movement of the twist belt 78.

For high speed operation, it would be necessary to restrict the mofion of shaft 29 to the speed of the ratchet arm 27 in order to eliminate the coasting motion of shaft 29. To accomplish this, the shaft 29 may be extended as shown in FIG. 8 and the ratchet gear 175 is provided which is on the opposite side of arm 27 from ratchet gear 133. The ratchet gear 175, FIG. 7, has teeth which are set in the opposite direction from the teeth in ratchet gear 133 and the ratchet gear 175 is fixed to shaft 29 by a key and set screw 165. The upper portion of the stand 131 supports a pawl 158 which is pivoted on a screw 163 carried by the stand 131, and the pawl 158 has a projection 159 located a short distance from the pawls pivot point so that when the lower portion of the arm 27 is at its left extremity, the cam 157 which is rigid with the arm 27 will engage the projection 159 thereby raising the pawl 158 out of the ratchet gear 175. As shown in FIG. 7, a projection is provided on the arm 27 in which the projection is located about half way between the shaft 29 and the lower extremity of the arm 27. The projection pivotally supports the ratchet pawl 162 through the medium of a screw 164 carried by the projection and a pressure spring 161 disposed between the pawl 162 and a projection on arm 27, suitable seats being provided to hold the spring in its relative position so that the pressure spring 161 holds the pawl 162 in contact with the ratchet gear 175. The member 169 carried by the stand 131 serves to impart a camming action to the pawl 162. If the lower extremity of the arm 27 is moved toward the right in FIG. 7, the pawl 162 is lowered and disengaged from the ratchet gear 172.

The intermittent drive mechanism operates so that when the lower extremity of the arm 27 is in the left extremity (FIG. 7 and FIG. 4), the ratchet pawl 28 will engage the ratchet gear 133 at the ratchet tooth 179, In this position of the arm 27, the cam 157 will have raised the pawl 158 to release the tooth 177 in the ratchet gear 175, placing the ratchet pawl 162 in the extreme left position so as to be next to the tooth 180 on the ratchet gear 175. Thenas the lower extremity of arm 27 is moved to the right, the pawl 28 will revolve the ratchet gear 133 while the pawl 162 will be next to the tooth 180 and will thereby limit the rotation of the shaft 29. Further motion of the lower extremity of the arm 27 to the right will cause the pawl 162 to engage the came projection 169 so that the pawl will disengage from the tooth 180. The pawl 158, having been released previously, will then engage the next tooth in ratchet gear 175 and in order to control further motion of the shaft 29, the ratchet pawl 35, being in the position shown in FIG. 4 will engage the tooth on the ratchet gear 133 and will prevent any backward motion.

In order to traverse the conveying belts 82 and 83, the depending frame or stand 64 is provided on the horizontal frame for pivotally mounting the oscillating arm 62 on the stud 63, the stud 63 being provided with an enlarged head which prevents side play of the oscillating arm 62. The center portion of the arm 62 is provided with a cam follower 61 which fits into the recess of the cam 60 whereas the forward extremity of the arm 62 is provided with a rounded portion which is received within a long slot in the traverse stand (FIGS. 1 and 2). A pair of traverse rods 104 and are fixed to the stand 70 and these rods are journalled at their opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in the frame 69. The rods 104 and 80 are provided with respective pulleys 84 and 81 which are journalled thereon and provided with retaining collars 85, 86 and 87, 88 pinned to the respective rods to axially locate the pulleys.

The traverse mechanism is operated by the drive through the gears and 41 to the shaft 3 he cam 60 on the shaft 39 operating through the cam follower 61 to impart oscillating motion to the lever 62. This oscillating motion is transmitted through stand 70 to the traverse rods 104 and 80 so that the pulleys 84 and 81 and consequently the belts 82 and 83 are traversed as required. The 125 and 41 gears have the same number of teeth which permits the relative timing of the traverse mechanism with the intermittent feeding mechanism.

The drive for the twisting mechanism is effected through the sprocket gear .137 to drive the shaft 153, and through the bevel gear 184 on the shaft 153 to the shaft 139 through the bevel gear 138 (FIGS. 9 and The shaft 139 is supported at its opposite ends by the bearings 148 and 149 secured respectively to the frame 33 and the support 170 by means of the fasteners 15.1, 152 and 150. The shaft 139 is also provided with a bevel gear 140 in mesh with the bevel gear 141 fixed to the shaft 108. The upper portion of the shaft 108 is supported by the two bearings 186 and 187 whereas its lower portion is supported by a bearing in the support 170 and this shaft is provided with a series of pulleys 107, 109, 110, and 142 which are fixed thereto and with an elongated collar 112 freely journalled thereon. The shaft 115 as shown in FIG. 2 is suitably journalled by the bearings 190, 191 and is provided with the relatively wide pulley 117 and with the pulley 111, both of which are fixed to this shaft and directly below the pulley 111 a relatively wide collar 113 is journalled on a shaft 115. The twist belt 78 is trained about the pulleys 109 and 117 and the twist belt 78 is in contact with twist needle 79 as shown, the drive to the shaft 1.15 being effected by the belt 118 which connects pulleys 110 and 111.

For driving the twist needle, the pulley 107 drives pulley 91 through belt 92, the pulley 91 being fixed to the shaft 95. Spur gear 90 (FIG. 1) is fixed to shaft 95 by a pin, which is supported by the ball bearings 194 and 193 mounted on the frame 69. The shaft 95 carries a gear 90 and has a shoulder 196, the shoulder 196 and spur gear 90 restricting axial movement of the shaft 95, and the spur gear 90 effecting drive to the shaft 94 through the spur gear 89. The shaft 94 is supported by the ball bearings 197 and 195 and is provided at its lower end with an axial opening receiving the twist needle 79, such lower end also being axially split and provided with external threads for the reception of the nut 93'whereby forming a chuck for allowing ready change of needles. As explained in Patent 2,598,185, the needle 79 (FIG. 2) is set at an angle in relation to twist belt 78 to permit the belt 78 to slide the fibers toward the end of the needle 79 as the needle and twist belt rotate.

The drive for the delivery rolls is effected from the shaft 108 and its pulleys 142 through the belt 143 to the pulley 144 fixed to the shaft 145. The shaft 145 is suitably journalled by the bearings 193 and has a worm 146 fixed thereto for driving the worm gear 147 fixed to the delivery roll 71. The delivery roll 71 is in contact with the cushion rolls 72 by virtue of the action of the spring 77 operating against the latter. The upper left portion of the arm 73 has a suitable bearing for the cushion rolls 72 and the arm 73 is pivotally carried by a pin 74 extending through a stand 75 fastened to the upright frame 114 by the cap screw 76.

Different twist per inch requirements necessitate changes in the speed of the delivery roll 71 relative to the speed of the twist belt 78 and needle 79 and also require a different angle of the twist needle 79 in relation to the twist belt. The angle of the twist needle 79 may be changed by loosening the cap screw 68 and revolving needle 79 and traverse rods 104 and 80 to the desired correct angle. Then set by tightening cap screw 68.

In FIG. 1, I have shown pulley 81 and in FIG. 2 pulley 84 perpendicular to the twist needle 79. However,

if intermittent drafting is used and the needle is loaded on the upstroke only, the pulleys 81 and 84 may be placed on bearings which are parallel to the fibers being placed on the twist belt and needle.

The drafting rolls on my novel machine are similar to the drafting rolls used on the conventional spinning and roving frames. In my machine I have provided a stand 48 which is fixed to the horizontal frame 65 by a cap screw 54, which stand 48 has a second stand 206 fastened thereto by a cap screw 66. The stand 206 contains two bearings which support rolls 21 and 22 and the front portion of stand 48 contains two bearings which support bottom rolls 23 and 181. A stand 200 (FIG. 3), similar to the stand 48 supports rolls 21, 22, 23 and 181.

It is common in the drafting of fibers to provide a break shaft from 1.2 to 2.0 between the back roll 21 and roll 22 (FIG. 3). This may be accomplished by having a relatively smaller gear on roll 22 than on roll 21.

In order to hold the top drafting rolls in frictional contact with the bottom rolls, I have provided a stand 47 fixed to the shaft 204, the shaft 204 being supported by the stand 48 and 200 and being provided with shoulders as shown to prevent axial play of this shaft. The stand 47 extends toward the front of my machine and has a bearing on the front extremity that supports the top roll 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The rod 50 is pinned to the stand 47 by a pin 51 and the lower part of the rod 50 is pinned to a lever 57 by the pin 49. A lever 57 is pivoted on the pin 56 carried by the stand 55 which screws into the horizontal frame 65 and the back portion of lever 57 has a pressure spring 58 which applies pressure to the rod 50 thereby forcing the roll 45 into frictional contact with the roll 23. The pressure spring 58 is held in position by the projections 59. The upper middle portion of the stand 47 has a hole which supports or positions a stand 102 (FIG. 1) and the back of stand 102 is also supported or held in position by projections fixed to the stand 47 and straddling the stand 102. The lower portions of stand 102 have two bearings journalling the top rolls 43 and 44 and these hearings apply pressure to the rolls 43 and 44 holding them in frictional contact with the bottom rolls 21 and 22 under the action of the spring 100. The top roll 44 and the bottom roll 22 each support the conventional slip draft aprons.

The stand 48 carries two bearings suitable for supporting the bottom roll 24 and the top roll 210, the front portion of the stand 200 being similar to the stand 48 (FIG. 3), and the collars 123 and 124 are pinned to the top carrier roll 210 and prevent side play thereof as shown. The top carrier roll or pulley 46 is pinned to the shaft 210 (FIG. 3) and is in frictional contact with the bottom carrier roll 181 (FIG. 1) carried by the shaft 24.

In operation, the back rolls 21 and 43 (FIG. 1) and the break draft rolls 22 and 44 are intermittently driven as previously explained while the front drafting rolls 23 and 45 are driven by a continuous drive. The carrier rolls 181 and 46 are driven at approximately the same surface speed as rolls 23 and 45 whereas the draft between the rolls 22 and 44 and the rolls 23 and 45 runs from approximately 4 to over 100. For example, if the draft is 20, this means that for each inch delivered by rolls 22 and 44, the rolls 23 and 45 will stretch or draft the fibrous material to 20 inches. The mechanism previously described intermittently drives the back rolls 21 and 43 and break draft rolls 22 and 44. Each revolution of the cam 30 (FIG. 4) will deliver say one inch of roving to rolls 22 and 44 and this one inch length will be stretched or drafted to 20 inches in length as the fibrous material enters rolls 45 and 23 (FIG. 1). The back rolls 21 and 43 and break draft rolls 22 and 44 stop after delivering the one inch length while the front rolls 23, 45, 181 and 46 continue to turn thereby making a clean break between the creel package 52 and the 20 inch length. When the front portion of the 20 inch length is near the twist belt,

7 the cam 60 (FIG. 1) is timed so the pulleys 81 and 84 are at their lower extremity. As the 20 inch length of the fibrous material is delivered to the needle, the cam 60 forces the pulleys 81 and 84 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) upward thereby winding the 20 inches of fibrous material on the needle from the bottom to the top of the needle. Other lengths of material are delivered to the needle in the same way. The twist belt 78 and needle twist the fibrous material and slide the material toward the needles end. The delivery rolls (FIG. 1) assist in pulling the fibrous material, which is now a twisted yarn or rowing, off of the needle. The yarn or roving may go to the next process or may be wound on a large finished pack-age.

I have described the loading of the needle from the bottom to the top. However, the intermittent drafting mechanism may be timed to load the needle from the top to the bottom. However, I have preferred to load the needle from bottom to top on Z twist.

I also previously mentioned that the loading of the needle can be on a continuous basis; however, I prefer the intermittent drafting because of the advantage of producing a better quality yarn.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein.

I claim:

1. In an open end spinning or twisting machine of the type having an elongate twist needle, means for rotating said twist needle about its longitudinal axis, and means for assisting said twist needle to twist fibrous material, the improvement comprising:

conveyor means for conveying fibrous material to said twist needle and including mechanism for displacing the fibrous material along a path extending in the longitudinal direction of said twist needle.

2. In the machine according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a pair of pulleys, a pair of endless belts trained over respective ends of said pulleys and having juxtaposed flights for sandwiching fibrous material therebetween said mechanism effecting reciprocation of said pulleys back and forth along the axes of their rotation.

3. In the machine according to claim 2 including feed means for feeding fibrous material to said conveyor means, said feed means including carrier rolls over which respective ones of said endless belts are trained, means for continuously driving said carrier rolls, feed roll means preceeding said carrier rolls, and drive means for driving said feed roll means to draft fibrous material in the region between said feed roll means and said carrier rolls.

4. In the machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive means effects intermittent rotation of said feed roll means.

In the machine according to claim 4 wherein said feed roll means comprises a pair of back rolls and a pair of break draft rolls, said break draft rolls being driven at a speed greater than the speed at which said back rolls are driven.

6. In the machine according to claim 5 including a pair of front drafting rolls immediately preceding said carrier rolls said front drafting rolls being driven to deliver fibrous material to said belts at the same speed as said belts move the fibrous material.

7. In an open end spinning or twisting machine of the type having twist mechanism including an elongate, longitudinally rotatable twist needle, the improvement comprising:

means for receiving fibrous material and feeding it in drafted length, conveyor means intermittently receiving said drafted lengths of fibrous material for conveying same to said twist needle, said conveyor means having a twist needle feeding portion adjacent said twist needle.

and means for traversing said twist needle feeding portion back and forth along a path offset from but extending in the direction of the axis of said twist needle.

8. In the machine as defined in claim 7 wherein a twist belt is provided in close adjacency to said twist needle and support means for said twist needle mounted for angular adjustment in a plane parallel to said twist belt.

9. In the machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said twist needle feeding portion of the conveyor means is mounted on said support means.

10. In the machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said conveyor means includes a pair of endless belts having juxtaposed flight portions for carrying fibrous material therebetween.

11. In the machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said conveyor means includes a pair of endless belts having juxtaposed flight portions for carrying fibrous material therebetween.

12. In the machine according to claim 7 wherein said means for receiving fibrous material and feeding it in drafted lengths comprises feed roll means for receiving fibrous material from a supply, front draft roll means for receiving fibrous material from said feed roll means, means for continuously driving said front draft roll means, and periodic drive means for intermittently driving said feed roll means.

13. In the machine according to claim 12 wherein said periodic drive means includes pawl and ratchet mechanism to prevent coasting of said feed roll means.

14. In the machine according to claim 1 including feed means for feeding drafted lengths of fibrous material to said conveyor means.

15. In the machine according to claim 14 wherein said feed means includes feed rolls receiving fibrous material, front draft rolls receiving fibrous material from said feed roll and delivering it to said conveyor means, drive means for continuously driving said front draft rolls, and periodic drive means for intermittently driving said feed rolls.

16. In the machine according to claim 15 wherein said periodic drive means includes pawl mechanism to prevent coasting of said feed roll means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,185 5/1952 Maxham 57-5891 2,732,682 l/l956 Kyame 5753.9l 3,343,360 9/1967 Brown 57--58.9l 3,411,284 11/1968 Corbaz et al. 57-58.91

DONALD E. WATKINS, Primary Examiner 

